Grand Blanc soldier Peter Sims will be honored at U.S. Army All-American Bowl Jan. 5

View full sizeMaster Sgt. Peter Sims, a Grand Blanc native, will be honored this weekend at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas, for his courageous efforts on deployment in 2003.Courtesy photo

GRAND BLANC, MI --
In 2003, Master Sgt. Peter Sims looked at the man standing next to him at
an undisclosed location in Iraq. No words were spoken, but Sims knew he had the
support he needed to make his next move.

The Grand Blanc native was an Army senior medic
and assault team leader on deployment when his team stumbled into an open
fire fight. Two of Sims' team members were injured by a grenade and couldn't get themselves to safety.

In stepped Sims, ready and willing, to grab the two soldiers
and pull them to safety, check out their wounds and step back into the
firefight. His two team members survived and healed,in large part due to Sims' courageous
effort, for which he received a Bronze Star with Valor.

On Saturday, Sims, 42, will again be honored, at the U.S.
Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas. The game will be nationally televised at 1 p.m. on NBC.

Sims has been named one of the game's Solider Heroes. The game features some of the best high school football athletes from across the nation. Sims will be recognized at a dinner Friday, Jan. 4, and during the game Saturday, Jan. 5.

"I wasn't really worried about protecting myself, but rather
protecting my (fellow soldiers)," Sims said about the 2003 incident. "I knew
the other guys on the team would have my back if I went for them. I was not concerned
for myself, but I wanted to protect my buddies and get them out of harm's way.

"It is really a great honor to be recognized, but it is not
something I expected as I was doing my job as most guys do. A job for us is not
about the medals or recognition, but looking out for the guy on your left side
or right."

When Sims graduated from Grand Blanc High School in 1988, he
enlisted in the Army Reserves so he could also attend college at Ferris State
University. Sims was a three-sport athlete at Grand Blanc, playing football,
hockey and running track, but on the ice is where he felt most comfortable.

However, while applying for a Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship and trying
out for the Ferris State hockey team, Sims broke his knee cap, putting a halt
to his plans at the time. So, after two years at college, Sims volunteered for
active duty at the beginning of the Gulf War.

"Not a lot of the members of my family had gone to college,
so that was something of a goal for myself and it was something I wanted to
make sure I did," Sims said. "The Army also gave me an opportunity to help people
and be physical and active, which is something I enjoyed.

"Going on active duty and being able to serve at that point
and time, which everybody was, it was just good for my family and it was the
right fit."

During Sims' hockey career at Grand Blanc, Doug Towler had
the privilege to coach the right wing. And, while Sims' future didn't involve
hockey, Towler wasn't surprised to find out his former player had gone on to do
extraordinary things.

"I think athletics teach you a lot of things in life, a way
to do things and teach mental toughness and being prepared and ready for
whatever confronts you," Towler, now the hockey coach at Davison, said. "I had
great kids, who were always ready to go, but Peter was a notch above that. He
was a rare breed and it was amazing the things he could do and he was
respectful of those around him.

"You could see back then that he would make a name for
himself in the world and would figure out a way to get to the top of the
whatever field he decided to go into. Whatever accolades he gets, I'm sure he
deserves them."

Sims began as a combat medic in his early years in the Army
before moving on to be a military police officer and eventually a Special
Forces medic. After his first deployment to Kuwait, what started out as just a
job for Sims turned into a lifelong career.

With a chance to mentor young athletes this week, Sims, who
is now stationed at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, has been able to talk about his
own experience making the transition from high school to college as well as
providing answers to questions he himself had at that age.

"We have been able to work with a couple athletes and mentor
them and give them some of our life experiences as they look to go to college,
because some of them are not sure where they want to go," Sims said. "Some
could have excellent college and professional careers and some are curious
about the military and the Army. I want to open doors to them that they may not
have known about previously."

Contact Josh at jgordon6@mlive.com or 810-247-7928 and
follow him on Twitter @JoshuaKGordon.